HITOWA Kids Life to Open 'Ivy Kids Yoyogi Nishisando,' Shibuya's First Child Development Support Center Co-located with a Nursery School, in April 2026

HITOWA Kids Life Inc. (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshito Yoshioka), part of the HITOWA Group which provides comprehensive life support services, will open the child development support center 'Ivy Kids Yoyogi Nishisando' within the 'Taiyo no Ko Yoyogi Nishisando Nursery' in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo in April 2026. This model of co-locating a child development support center with a nursery school is the first of its kind in Shibuya Ward.

Child development support refers to welfare, psychological, educational, and medical assistance tailored to the specific characteristics of disabilities in children, aiming to promote the proper development of their physical and mental functions and enable them to lead smooth daily and social lives. By providing assistance suited to a child's characteristics as they grow, they can find 'ways to live more easily' in society.

'Ivy Kids' first opened in Fuda, Chofu City in 2022 as a child development support center for children with developmental concerns. It has since expanded its centers mainly in the Kanto region, including Chiba and Saitama prefectures, with the Yoyogi Nishisando opening being the fifth center.

**Features of Ivy Kids' Therapy** 'Ivy Kids' emphasizes the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) approach, which considers the triggers of behavior. By observing a child's 'specific behavior' and using professional approaches such as sensory integration theory, children and instructors work on programs one-on-one in individual therapy. It is also possible to incorporate programs such as 'pair therapy,' where 2-3 children receive therapy together, and 'group therapy' for 4-6 children, allowing for the best therapeutic method to be considered based on the child's characteristics, developmental stage, and family situation. Furthermore, experienced staff, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, childcare workers, and child development support managers, are available for consultations on daily parenting concerns.

HITOWA Kids Life has always strived to provide support tailored to each child's individual characteristics. With the opening of this nursery-co-located center, we will further deepen our collaboration with families and professional staff to contribute even more to children's growth.